Hanger assemblies for supporting a numger of clothes hangers or racks in orderly fashion



y 1967 w. H. ROSCICK) 3,

HANGER ASSEMBLIES FOR SUPPORTING A NUMBER OF CLOTHES HANGERS OR RACKS IN ORDERLY FASHION Filed June (5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WALTER H. ROSC/CK/ BY WW ATTDRNEYS.

y 1967 w. H. ROSCICKI ,0

HANGER ASSEMBLIES FOR SUPPORTING A NUMBER OF CLOTHES HANGERS OR RACKS IN ORDERLY FASHION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 28" WALTER H. Rosa/cm I wmr mm Filed June 5, 1965 A TTURNEYS,

United States Patent G Filed June 3, 1965, Ser. No. 460,938 13 Claims. (Cl. 211-124) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in hanger assemblies for supporting a number of clothes hangers or racks in orderly fashion.

It is often found necessary to display a number of clothes hangers or racks in close side by side relationship for displaying the hangers or racks for sale purposes. Furthermore, garments such as dresses are often transported on portable carts short distances when supported on hangers or racks mounted on the cart. The hangers or racks are necessarily in close spaced relationship thereby subjecting the hangers and racks and the garments to damage.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a hanger for clothes hangers or racks that supports a number of hangers or racks in neat and orderly fashion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hanger construction that permits ready mounting of clothes hangers or racks on and removal from the hanger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hanger construction that permits ready mounting on and removal of a number of clothes hangers or racks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hanger construction that permits ready mounting on and removal of a number of clothes hangers or racks having means for accidental preventing displacement of the hanger or racks.

Another object is to provide a hanger structure for supporting a number of clothes hangers or racks in order- ,ly fashion for ready removal and against displacement.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hanger assembly that is simple and rugged in construction, economical to manufacture and efficient for the purposes intended.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a hanger assembly embodying a preferred form of the invention, a number of clothes hangers being shown supported there- FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line '2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a hanger assembly embodying a first modified form of the invention, a clothes hanger being shown supported thereon, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bar body of the hanger assembly of FIG. 3. 7

FIG. 5 is avertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a spread perspective view of the parts of FIG. 5.

3 ,317,055 Patented May 2, 1967 FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a hanger assembly embodying a fourth modified form of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1010 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a portion of a hanger assembly embodying a fifth modified form of the invention, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of a portion of a hanger assembly embodying a sixth modified form of the invention, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 13 is a detail elevational view showing a modified form of spring leaf anchoring slot.

FIG. 14 is a detail perspective view showing a modified means for fastening the supporting hook to the bar. FIG. 15 is a similar view showing another modified means of fastening the supporting hook to the bar.

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIG. 1 a hanger assembly embodying the preferred form of the invention is shown and designated generally at 10. The hanger assembly 10 comprises an elongated flat steel bar 12 of heavy stock with opposed smooth surfaces, and with straight flat top and bottom edges 14 and 16 respectively. The body of the bar 12 is formed with closely spaced triangular shaped slots 18 .with the apical end 20 at the top. The base of the triangular slot is closely spaced from the bottom straight edge 16 of the bar 12 thereby providing a narrow rail 22 between each slot and the bottom edge 16 of the bar. A slot 24 is formed in the top straight edge 14 of the bar midway its ends which slot 24 intersects and communicates with an elongated slot 26 in the body of the bar underneath the slot 24. The slot 26 has a flat base 28. Opposed narrow metal strips 30 of metal are welded to the opposed surfaces of the bar closing the front and rear of the slot 24. An elongated spring leaf 32 is welded at one end as indicated at 34 to the stop flat straight edge 14 of the body of the bar on each side of the slot 24, the free ends of the leaf springs extending away from the slot 24 and extending upwardly from the top edge 14 of the body of the bar as best seen in FIG. 4.

A channel-shaped lock bar 36, U-shaped in cross-section, is slidably nested over the top of the body of bar 12 concealing the slot 24, slot 26 and leaf springs 32 from view. The lock bar 36 is substantially the same width as the body of bar 12 and is normally urged away from the top edge 14 of bar 12 by means of the leaf springs 32 as best seen in FIG. 3. A smooth central hole 38 is formed in the channel-shaped bar 36 midway its ends in line with the slot 24 in the body of bar 12 when the bars are nested as shown in FIG. 3.

A metal hook structure 40 is associated with the bars 12 and 36. The hook structure 40 comprises an elongated round body 42 with external screw threads 44 thereon, the body continuing at its top end into a loop or hook 46. The threaded body 42 extends through the hole 38 in the bight portion of the channel bar 36 and through the aligned slot 24 in the top 'of the bar 12. The elongated round body 42 of the hook structure is flattened on opposite sides -as indicated at 48 adjacent its bottom end. The flattened portion 48 is positioned between the strips 30, 30, the threads 44 on the body engaging the top and bottom edges of the strips to prevent longitudinal movement of the hook structure. A wing nut 50 is threaded on the round body portion 42 above the bight portion of the channel bar 36 whereby turning of the wing nut will move the channel bar 36 downwardly against the action of springs 32 thereby closing the slots 18 in the body of the bar 12 to any desired degree.

In use, initially the channel-shaped locking bar 36 is positioned over the perforated bar 12 with its bight portion spaced above the top edge 14 of the bar 12 as shown in FIG. 4, the leaf springs 32 normally holding the locking bar 36 in this position. This leaves the greater area of the slots 18 exposed. When the slots are thus exposed, a plurality of clothes hangers, such as the wire hangers 52 shown in FIG. 1 can readily be mounted on the rails 22 of the bar 12 of each slot 18 by inserting the hooked ends 54 thereof, through the slots 18, onto the rails 22 in close proximity to each other, if desired, as seen in FIG. 1. The channel-shaped locking bar 36 is then moved downwardly along the body 42 of the hook structure 40 by means of the wing nut 50, against the action of the springs 32, over the bar 12 to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 thereby clamping the hooked ends 54 of the clothes hangers 52 against the rails 22 below the slots 18 and thus preventing displacement of the clothes hangers 52.

In the modified form of hanger assembly shown in FIG. 7, the slots 18' in bar 12' are substantially rectangular in shape instead of triangular in shape as in FIG. 1. Furthermore, the spring means for urging the channel locking bar 36' comprises a compression spring 32' seated at one end on a lug 56 formed in the top straight edge 14' of the bar 12'. In all other respects, the hanger assembly 10 is similar to hanger assembly 10 and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts.

FIG. 8 illustrates a modified form of leaf spring 32" for urging the channel-shaped locking bar away from the bar 12". Thus spring 32" has a looped end 58 anchored in a similarly shaped slot 60 in the straight top edge 14" of the bar 12".

Referring now to the modified form of hanger assembly 10a shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, herein an elongated angle bar 12a, inverted L-shaped in cross section, is formed with a series of spaced slots 18a along one side 62 thereof. Another complementary angle bar 36a is nested over bar 12a with one side 64 thereof overlapping the perforated side 62 of bar 12a and with its other side 66 superimposed on the other side 68 of bar 12a. The side 66 of clamping bar 36a is formed with a smooth hole 38 a midway its ends, and the side 68 of bar 12a is also formed with a smooth hole 70 in line with the hole 38a.

The hook structure 40a differs from the hook structure 40 of FIG. 1 merely in that the threaded body 42a of the hook is held in position in the aligned holes 38a and 70 by means of a lock nut 72 at the bottom end thereof. A compression spring 74 is sleeved around the body 42a of the hook and urges the locking bar 36a away from the bar 12a.

In using the hanger assembly 101;, the clothes hangers such as the clothes hangers 52 of FIG. 1 are hooked over the rails 22a formed by the slots 18a. The clamping angle bar 36a is then moved downwardly along the body 42a of the hook by means of the wing nut 50a whereupon the bottom straight edge 76 of the bar 12a clamps the hooked ends of the clothes hangers against the rails 22a.

In FIG. 11 another modified form of hanger assembly 10x is shown consisting of a rectangular supporting bar 12x formed with a series of spaced round holes 18x for supporting clothes hangers on the rails 22x formed therebelow. In this form, there is no clamping bar but the clothes hangers held in position by means of the hooks thereon.

A supporting hook structure 40x is shown with its round body 42x extending through a smooth transverse passage 78 formed midway the ends of the bar 12x, the bottom end of the body 42x being threaded and held against withdrawal by a lock nut 80 thereon. A wing nut 50x on the threaded portion of the body 42x above the bar 12x clamps the hook in position.

FIG. 12 illustrates a modified form of slot 18m: in the supporting bar 12aa. In this form the slots 18cm are substantially of the same shape as the slot 18 of FIG. 1 but the base portions 2841a of the slot taper downward slightly, from right to left as viewed, forming rails 22aa therebelow with slanting top edges whereby the hooked ends of the clothes hangers inserted through the slots slide downwardly into bunched relation to be clamped by the clamping bar 3601a.

FIG. 13 illustrates still another modified form of slot 24xx in the top straight edge 14xx of the supporting bar 12xx for receiving a hook structure with a similar shaped bottom end.

In FIG. 14, a modified form of hook structure having a shank comprising two flat bars 84, 84 spread apart at their bottom ends to form bifurcations 86, 86. The bars 84, 84 are spot welded to each other as indicated at 88, and the bifurcations 86 are Welded to the supporting bar 12' as indicated at 90 midway the ends of the bar.

FIG. 15 illustrates a modified means of connecting the hook structure to the supporting bar 12aaa. In this form, the bar 12am: is formed with a transverse passage 92 therethrough with the round body 42aaa of the hook structure extending loosely therethrough. The bottom protruding end of the body 42am is threaded on which is threaded a locking nut 94 for preventing withdrawal of the body 42am.

While I have illustrated and described the now preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hanger assembly comprising an elongated fiat clothes-hanger-supporting 'bar having a series of spaced slots therein, a channel-shaped bar slidably nested over the flat bar, spring means for urging the bight portion of the channel-shaped bar away from the top edge of the flat bar, hook means associated with the bars for supporting the hanger on a horizontal support and means for moving the channel-shaped bar over the slots in the supporting bar for clamping-clothes-hangers on the supporting bar.

2. A hanger assembly comprising an elongated fiat clothes-hanger-supporting bar having a series of spaced slots therein, a channel-shaped bar slidably nested over the flat bar, spring means for urging the bight portion of the channel-shaped bar away from the top edge of the fiat bar, hook means associated with the bars for supporting the hanger on a horizontal support and means for moving the channel-shaped bar over the slots in the supporting bar for clamping-clothes-hangers on the supporting bar, said spring means including elongated leaf springs interposed between the top of the supporting bar and the bight portion of the channel bar.

3. A hanger assembly comprising an elongated fiat clothes-hanger-supporting bar having a series of spaced slots therein, a channel-shaped bar slidably nested over the flat bar, spring means for urging the bight portion of the channel-shaped bar away from the top edge of the fiat bar, hook means associated with the bars for supporting the hanger on a horizontal support and means for moving the channel-shaped bar over the slots in the supporting bar for clamping-clothes-hangers on the supporting bar, the bight portion of said channel bar having a hole midway its ends, said supporting bar having a slot in the top edge thereof in line with the hole in the bight portion of the channel bar, the hook means including a round body portion with external screw threads extended through the aligned hole and slot and a hook portion at one end of the round body portion. I

4. A hanger assembly comprising an elongated fiat clothes-hanger-supporting bar having a series of spaced slots therein, a channel-shaped bar slidably nested over the flat bar, spring means for urging the bight portion of the channel-shaped bar away from the top edge of the flat bar, hook means associated with the bars for supporting the hanger on a horizontal support and means for moving the channel-shaped bar over the slots in the supporting bar for clamping clothes-hangers on the supporting bar, said spring means including elongated leaf spring mounted on and between the top of the supporting bar and the bight portion of the channel bar, the bight portion of said channel bar having a hole midway its ends, said supporting bar having a slot in the top edge thereof in line with the hole in the bight portion of the channel bar, the hook means including a round body portion with external screw threads extended through the aligned hole and slot and a hook portion at one end of the round body portion.

5. A hanger assembly comprising an elongated rectangular fiat clothes-hanger-supporting bar having a series of triangular-shaped slots therein providing narrow supporting rails therebelow, a channel-shaped bar slidably nested over the flat bar, spring means for urging the bight portion of the channel-shaped bar away vfrom the top edge of the flat bar, a hook structure associated with the bars for supporting the hanger on a horizontal support, said structure including an elongated body portion round in cross section, said body portion being externally screw threaded, and means for moving the channelshaped bar over the slots in the supporting bar for clamping clothes hangers on the supporting bar, said latter means including a wing nut on the threaded body portion of the hook structure engaging the bight portion of the channel-shaped bar.

6. A hanger assembly comprising an elongated rectangular flat clothes-hanger-supporting bar having a series of triangular-shaped slots therein providing narrow supporting rails therebelow, said supporting bar having a top straight edge with a slot midway the ends thereof, a channel-shaped bar slidably nested over the fiat supporting bar, said channel-shaped bar having a hole midway the ends thereof in line with the slot in the top edge of the supporting bar, spring means for urging the bight portion of the channel-shaped bar away from the top edge of the flat bar, a hook structure associated with the bars for supporting the hanger on a horizontal support, said hook structure including an elongated body portion round in cross section, said body portion being externally screw threaded, and a wing nut on the threaded body portion and engaging the bight portion of the channel bar whereby turning of the wing nut slides the channel-shaped bar over the slotted bar in clamping engagement with clothes hangers when mounted in the slots of the supporting bar.

7. A hanger assembly comprising an elongated rectangular fiat clothes-hanger-supporting bar having a series of triangular-shaped slots therein providing narrow supporting rails therebelow, a channel-shaped bar slidably nested over the fiat bar, spring means for urging the bight portion of the channel-shaped bar away from the top edge of the flat bar, a hook structure associated with the bars for supporting the hanger on a horizontal support, said structure including an elongated body portion round in cross section, said body portion being externally screw threaded, and means for moving the channelshaped bar over the slots in the supporting bar for clamping clothes hangers on the supporting bar, said latter means including a wing nut on the threaded body portion of the hook structure engaging the bight portion of the channel-shaped bar, and means for preventing withdr-awal of the body portion of the hook structure from the aligned hole and slot, said latter means including strips of metal closing the sides of the slot in the top straight edge of the supporting bar, the screw threaded portion of the body portion of the hook structure having a cutaway portion receiving said metal strips, the diameter or the external screw threads on the body portion being greater than the space between the metal strips whereby said threads engage the top edges of the metal strips preventing withdrawal of the threaded body from the aligned hole and slot.

8. A hanger assembly comprising an elongated fiat clothes-hanger-supporting bar having a series of spaced slots therein, a channel-shaped b'ar slidably nested over the flat bar, spring means for urging the bight portion of the channel-shaped bar away from the top edge of the fiat bar, hook means associated with the bars for supporting the hanger on 'a horizontal support and means for moving the channel-shaped bar over the slots in the supporting bar for clamping-clothes-hangers on the supporting bar, said spring means including compression springs interposed between the top edge of the supporting slotted bar and the bight portion of the channel bar.

9. A hanger assembly comprising an elongated fiat clothes-hanger-supporting bar having a series of spaced slots therein, a channel-shaped bar slidably nested over the flat bar, spring means for urging the bight portion of the channel-shaped bar away from the top edge of the fiat bar, hook means associated with the bars for supporting the hanger on a horizontal support and means for moving the channel-shaped bar over the slots in the supporting bar for clamping-clothes-hangers on the sup porting bar, the top edge of the supporting bar having looped shaped slots therein, said spring means including elongated leaf springs having looped shaped ends anchored in the looped shaped slots in the supporting bar.

10. A hanger assembly comprising a first elongated angle bar having a series of spaced slots in one side there-' of for supporting clothes hangers, a second elongated angle bar superimposed over the first angle bar and slidable thereover, spring means interposed between the superimposed sides of the angle bars for urging the second bar away from the first b'ar, said bars having aligned openings midway the ends thereof, an elongated hook structure associated with said bars for supporting the bars on a horizontal support, said hook structure including an elongated body portion round in cross section extending through the aligned openings in the bars, external screw threads on said elongated body portion, one end of said body portion extending outwardly of the slotted bar, a nut on said one end, a hook on the other end of the elongated body portion and a wing nut on the threaded body portion above the second angle bar in engagement with said second angle bar for moving the second angle bar downwardly over the first bar for clamping clothes hangers when supported in the slots of the said first bar.

11. A hanger assembly comprising a first elongated angle bar having a series of spaced slots in one side thereof for supporting clothes hangers, 'a second elongated angle bar superimposed over the first angle bar and slidable thereover, spring means interposed between the superimposed sides of the angle bars for urging the second bar away from the first bar, said bars having aligned openings midway the ends thereof, an elongated hook structure associated with said bars for supporting the bars on the horizontal support, said hook structure including an elongated body portion round in cross section extending through the aligned openings in the bars, external screw threads on said elongated body portion, one end of said body portion extending outwardly of the slotted bar, a nut on said one end, a hook on the other end of the elongated body portion and a wing nut on the threaded body portion above the second angle bar in engagement with said second angle bar for moving the second angle bar downwardly over the first bar for clamping clothes hangers when supported in the slots of the said first bar, said spring means comprising a compression spring sleeved around the threaded body of the hook structure between the first and second angle bars.

12. A hanger assembly comprising an elongated flat clothes-hanger-supporting b'ar having a series of spaced slots therein, a channel-shaped bar slidably nested over the flat bar, spring means for urging the bight portion of the channel-shaped bar away from the top edge of the flat bar, hook means associated with the bars for supporting the hanger on a horizontal support and means for movin gthe ehannel-shaped bar over the slots in the supporting bar for clam-ping clothes-hangers on the supporting bar, said spring means including elongated leaf springs interposed between the top of the supporting bar and the bigth portion of the channel bar, the bight portion of said channel bar having a hole midway its ends, said supporting bar having a slot in the top edge thereof in line with the hole in the bight portion of the channel bar, the hook means including a round body portion with external screw threads extended through the aligned hole and slot and a hook portion at one end of the round body portion, said slots being triangular in shape with the bases thereof disposed at a slight angle to the bottom edge of the slotted bar whereby the hooked ends of clothes-hangers supported in the slots are adapted to slide toward one end of the slot and become bunched.

13. A hanger assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the slot in the top edge of the supporting bar is substantially triangular in shape to receive the bottom end of the hook means similarly shaped.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,131,474 3/1915 Crafton 224 50 2,068,451 1/1937 Elmore 211 124 2,523,682 9/1950 Corwin 312 3 2,604,999 7/1952 Sutton 211113 10 2,953,251 9/1960 Stone et al 211 4 FOREIGN PATENTS 176,150 9/1953 Austria.

5 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HANGER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FLAT CLOTHES-HANGER-SUPPORTING BAR HAVING A SERIES OF SPACED SLOTS THEREIN, A CHANNEL-SHAPED BAR SLIDABLY NESTED OVER THE FLAT BAR, SPRING MEANS FOR URGING THE BIGHT PORTION OF THE CHANNEL-SHAPED BAR AWAY FROM THE TOP EDGE OF THE FLAT BAR, HOOK MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BARS FOR SUPPORTING THE HANGER ON A HORIZONTAL SUPPORT AND MEANS 